A devastating fire that tore through a popular bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve has left families in a state of collective grief and agonising uncertainty. The blaze at Le Constellation claimed the lives of about 40 people, with many victims yet to be formally identified due to the severity of their injuries.
The Fateful Celebration and Desperate Search
Among those caught in the tragedy was a group of 15 young people who had travelled from Milan, Italy, to celebrate. Eight managed to escape the inferno, while three were among the 80 critically injured. As of Friday evening, four from the group remained missing, including 16-year-olds Achille Barosi and Chiara Costanzo. Two older friends, Marco, 20, and Gabriele, 18, narrowly avoided the disaster after a last-minute decision not to go to the venue after midnight. "Sometimes that is how destiny plays out," Gabriele said at a makeshift tribute. "It is devastating."
The first victim to be publicly identified was Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old international golfer living in Dubai. His family confirmed the loss, pending final DNA checks. A British-educated teenager, Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15, was also reported missing. She was a former pupil of Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, whose family has since moved to France. The school community has been asked to keep her and her family in their thoughts and prayers.
Investigation Points to Sparklers and Acoustic Foam
Swiss prosecutors have revealed that the fire appears to have been sparked by sparklers placed in the tops of champagne bottles, which were then moved too close to the bar's ceiling. "From that a blaze began very quickly," stated Beatrice Pilloud, the attorney general for Valais canton. The investigation is also examining whether acoustic foam panelling on the ceiling complied with safety regulations and if it contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Frédéric Gisler, the Valais police chief, provided a breakdown of the 119 injured, with 113 formally identified. The injured include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French citizens, 11 Italians, four Serbs, and individuals from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal. The nationalities of 14 injured people are still unknown. Officials warned that identifying the deceased and the remaining injured could take several days due to the nature of their burns.
A Community United in Grief and Relief
The tragedy has cast a pall over Crans-Montana, a resort familiar to many of the young victims who had spent summers there with their families. Le Constellation was known as an affordable party spot in an otherwise exclusive destination. The collective grief was palpable on Friday, with residents expressing shock and a sense of personal loss.
One local, Jacques, described the mood: "I'm still trying to digest it. It's the grief, as if we have all lost a loved one." Dalia Gubbay, a long-time holiday homeowner, recalled her children's close calls. Her 27-year-old son witnessed the aftermath, while her two younger children, aged 15 and 17, had planned to be in Crans-Montana but went to Florence instead. "When they got back last night, I cried and hugged them hard," she said. "If they'd stayed, they might have gone to the party... What has happened is unthinkable."
Across social media, pleas for information continue. The mother of 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard appealed for help after checking hospitals in Lausanne and Berne. The grandfather of 22-year-old French woman Emilie Pralong described an "agonising" wait for news. As the community and families from across Europe hold vigil, the focus remains on supporting the injured and finally accounting for all those lost in the horrific blaze.
